Greenwich Head Start OK for now

Paul Schott

Updated 11:00 pm, Thursday, October 3, 2013

Greenwich's Head Start early education program is operating normally, so far unaffected by the federal government shutdown. But its services could be jeopardized if the legislative stalemate in Washington, D.C., drags on.

Head Start is a federal school-readiness program for preschoolers from low-income families. Managed in Greenwich by the nonprofit Family Centers, Head Start runs two classrooms at the Armstrong Court public housing development. Thirty-four children between 3 and 5 years old were enrolled in the program as of Oct. 1.

Head Start sites' funding cycles vary. The shutdown has inflicted an immediate impact on those that start Oct. 1, affecting thousands of children nationwide. But Greenwich Head Start has avoided that fate, because its funding cycle runs from Nov. 1 through Oct. 31. As a result, its federal allocation would not be held up unless the shutdown continues into November.

Greenwich Head Start has an approximately $700,000 budget for the 2014 fiscal year. Federal funding comprises 32 percent of that spending plan, state funding accounts for 14 percent, while the remaining 54 percent comes from other funding sources, including private donations and foundation grants.

While the town does not provide funding to Head Start, a number of town officials strongly back the program.

"It's an essential program, because if you want to talk about challenging the achievement gap, it really has to do with early education and the earlier the better," said Alan Barry, the town's social services commissioner. "This gives these kids literally a head start to be prepared, and that's what beginning to make an impact on the achievement gap is all about."